Ukraine seeking to buy modern air defense system from US

Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Valeriy Chaly announced on 28 August that the government will seek to purchase a modern air defense system from the United States.

In an interview with Radio NV, Valeriy Chaly said that Ukraine has requested the possible sale of air defense systems from the United States.

“Ukraine has requested to official Washington for a possible sale of air defense systems worth $750 million for one unit, if necessary at least three appropriate military complexes for the Ukrainian army,” – said Valeriy Chaly.

The ambassador added that the relevant request was voiced at the “senior and high level”, namely at the meetings of the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States in Brussels, as well as at the meetings of the Ukrainian side with the US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton.

A number of experts expressed divergent views on the issue. It is assumed that Ukraine requested the possible sale of the Patriot air defense system to replace ageing S-300PT and S-300PS systems.

Ukraine will be can use the Patriot missile system to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats.

The Patriot air defense system is the foundation of integrated air and missile defense for 15 nations.

Since January of 2015, Patriot has intercepted more than 100 ballistic missiles in combat operations around the world; more than 90 of those intercepts involved the low-cost Raytheon-made Guidance Enhanced Missile family of surface-to-air missiles.

Raytheon has built more than 220 Patriot fire units and delivered them to customers in 15 nations. Many of those countries have chosen to take advantage of Patriot’s flexible architecture and upgrade their systems.